News

World Championships, Nottingham ~ The World Championships took place from 24th to 30th August 1975 at the National Water Sports Centre, Holme Pierrepont, Nottingham, England. The stern IV from our victorious crew represented Ireland in the coxed IV event and were accompanied by Team Manager Peadar Casey. In the heat, we lead the Czechs to the 500 metre mark, but by halfway the roles had reversed. We finished third (6.47) with the Czechs first (6.42) and Romania second (6.46). In the repechage we couldn’t have been closer to a place in the Grand Final when we finished third (6.21.55), 100th of a second behind the British boat (6.21.54) which included two World Championship silver medallists. The race was won by the East Germans in a new course record (6.13). France and Canada finished 4th and 5th respectively. The Garda coxed IV won the Petite Final (6.44), and were placed 7th overall in the World.The Irish Independent gave the following account of the Petite Final which was raced into a strong head wind:

Garda put in a blinding sprint over the first 200 metres and were a length up on Canada and New Zealand. Passing the 500 metre mark, to which point their time was half a second faster than the Russia’s runaway Grand Final winning crew. Ireland maintained their two length lead until past the 1,500 metre mark when the New Zealanders began to spurt, Garda had the strength and power to hold them off and win the Petite Final by half a length. Their winning time was faster than either Czechoslovakia or Romania in the Grand Final.

The Sunday Telegraph (31/8/75) reported:

An outstanding performance by the Irish police, who finished seventh overall in the coxed fours, has placed the Irish firmly on the world rowing map.

Petite Final – Nottingham 1975

1st

Ireland

6.44

2nd

New Zealand

6.46

3rd

Canada

6.50

4th

USA

6.52

5th

Yugoslavia

6.58

6th

France

7.02

Irish Coxed IV

Bow Willie Ryan (3) Jim Muldoon

(2) Christy O’Brien Str. Mick Ryan

Cox Liam Redmond

Coaches Pat Grace and Brendan Duane

Frank Moore teamed up with Martin Feeley, Iain Kennedy and Alec McCabe to race in the coxless IV event. They finished fifth in their heat and did not progress any further.